Today the Myths and Legends podcast did the William Tell legend. Their version was neither too good nor too bad.
I've seen better ones, in particular this Victorian version, with its Kirsch-sipping Gessler yearning back to the Court at Vienna while ensuring that the rebel scum bend the knee before the Puffy, Floppy, Velvety Hat of his rule as Lord Governor. Long story short, something like in between Tywin Lannister and Stavro Blofeld, or Scaramanga, or (insert James Bond villain leader here).
I have secularised the tale as much as I could, and also modernised the Victorian-era spelling and lexicon a little, as well as updating the place names to Germanic spelling:
THE PATRIOT'S TRIAL.
A SWISS TALE.
The morning
sun shone brightly on the little hamlet of Bürglen, where a scene of
unusual bustle told that its humble inhabitants were preparing for their
regular market-day, at the beautiful village of Altdorf, a few leagues
distant.
All was seeming happiness
before one cottage door, somewhat remote from the rest, and whose
picturesque situation might have furnished a fit subject for the Romantic
painter. Its heavy roof hung over a sloping valley, covered with the
greenest turf, which was kept continually fresh by a tiny cascade, that,
breaking from a neighboring mountain, leaped merrily down its side, and
made a perfect chorus of music ere it reached the base. Patches of snow
still lingered beneath the dense foliage of the walnut-trees, which
formed an amphitheatre around the hamlet; but these remnants of winter
only served to afford pastime to two rosy-cheeked girls, who, clad in
the gay Swiss costume, a bright crimson bodice, white sleeves, and
party-colored petticoats, bounded like young chamois from one slippery
ledge to another, and laughed gayly, when the fragile balls powdered
their clothes, as if with diamonds. A boy of about eight years of age
was milking the cows in a small meadow, green as an emerald with clover; while, from the interior of the cottage, his
younger brother bore jars of honey, fragrant with the perfume of a
thousand Alpine flowers ; huge cheeses, formed from a mixture of ewe's
and cow's milk, possessing a peculiar yet not unpleasant flavor, and
flasks of walnut-oil; all which were transferred by his father to large
baskets, hanging on either side of a patient mule, that cropped the wild
thyme within reach, but, with a most self-denying docility, remained
perfectly motionless, although large patches of the fragrant herb grew
but a few paces further. The wife of William Tell, for the industrious
peasant was, in fact, the future deliverer of Switzerland, sat on a rude
stone bench at the casement, singing, in shrill tones, the national
song of the Ranz des Vaches, to the tottering child who climbed her
knee; while at the same time she contrived to ply, with busy fingers,
the plaited straw which she was forming into a broad-brimmed hat, such
as is universally worn by the Swiss peasants.
At length all the baskets
were laden, and, tossing the infant high in air, he returned it with a
kiss and farewell to his wife, and was soon lost in a dark recess of the
woods, through which the well-trained mule was accustomed to travel so
regularly, that he scarcely waited his master's bidding.
Tell rapidly pursued his way through the dense pine
forest, along a path bordered with the glowing festoons of
wildflowers, nor stopped for breath, until a sudden gap in the woods
revealed the small lake of Lucerne, still and shadowy in
the morning twilight, and forming a transparent mirror to the mountain
barrier, that seemed to prison it, as it were, from the world without.
The Swiss are devotedly attached to their country,
with its bold and stupendous scenery; and,as the peasant breathed the
cool air of the lake, some sudden emotion of patriotism was stirred
within him, and he half said, half muttered, "'Tis too fair a land for
the abode of a tyrant!" Then, with a deep sigh, he urged on his mule,
and in a few moments stood within the marketplace of Altdorf.
Before Switzerland obtained that liberty, by force of arms, which it
has ever since so nobly sustained, the command of Altdorf with the
surrounding hamlets, of all four cantons around the lake, was intrusted to an Austrian Governor, by the name of Gessler,
who, abusing his power, gave way to the greatest tyranny. He was
influenced alone by self-interest or caprice; judgements were granted the highest bidder; the innocent were
wronged; the ministers of the tyrant were allowed every excess, and
secret murmurings might be heard in many an abode of the simple, yet
brave-hearted peasants.
Since Tell last visited Altdorf, an event had
occurred, which served to show the mean spirit of the Governor. At his
command, a tall pole, surmounted by a floppy, plumed crimson velvet hat, the Governor's own favourite headcover, was placed in the middle
of the marketplace, and whoever neglected bowing to this, as he passed,
was sentenced to death, as having offered personal insult to Gessler.
The industrious Tell arrived before any of his
neighbours, and carelessly passing the pole, which he stopped to examine
through curiosity, he soon reached his usual stand; and before many
sellers appeared, his stock was arranged to the best advantage, and he
stood, waiting patiently for customers, while he picked wool, from a
small quantity stowed away in a basket, to prevent the necessity of
idleness.
But the good peasant's unintentional breach of laws
did not pass unobserved. A servant, in the Governor's interests, gave
notice of the offence, and while Tell was settling the price of a flask
of cold-drawn walnut-oil with a buyer, his arms were pinioned from
behind, a guard of soldiers surrounded him, and he was rudely dragged
through the principal street, to a heavy stone building, which was the
Governor's residence. The culprit entered fearlessly, and slightly
raising his hat, stood, as if too proud to ask the reason of his arrest.
"Rebel!" cried Gessler,
regarding him fiercely, "and is it thus that you obey the laws? Do you
dare to slight my power? Ah! now you are mine, and bitterly shall you
repent of your audacity." Astonished at these threats, but in no
way alarmed, since conscious of no crime, William Tell frankly
inquired of what he was accused A smile flitted over his face when he
learned the cause, but with dignity he assured the tyrant, that he now
for the first time heard of the edict, adding, with rustic simplicity,
"Who ever dreamed that it was necessary to bid good-morning to a hat, or suspected that such neglect would be counted an offence against royalty?"
The fury of the savage Gessler was increased by the
seeming fearlessness of the prisoner; and turning with flashing eyes to
the guard, he bade them seize the peasant, load him with chains, and
confine him in the dungeon's darkest cell. Then turning to a stone
table, on which stood a goblet, filled with the far-famed Kirschwasser, a
drink much esteemed by all ranks in Switzerland, he took a long draught
of the intoxicating liquor, and then sat down to meditate on some new
and refined mode of punishment for his victim.
In the mean while, Tell's
friends collected in groups about the village, eager to devise some
means for his escape; but the vigilance of the soldiers completely
baffled every plan. At length, an old peasant, who had accidentally
conferred some favors on the tyrant, pressed boldly into his presence,
and after regretting Tell's unintentional neglect, added, that although
he had transgressed the laws, it would seem almost a pity to take away
the life of one, who was esteemed the best crossbow-man in the canton.
"Well spoken !" said the Governor, as if struck with a sudden thought; "we will have proof of his
skill. His life is safe, if he should succeed; but if he fails, let no
one further attempt to plead his cause." Then, with a dark and ominous
smile, he turned to an attendant, bidding him hasten to Bürglen, and
speedily bring Rudolph, Tell's eldest son, a brave and lovely boy, who
promised to be the comfort of his father's life.
The unwilling messenger departed, and meeting the
child, as he gathered wild strawberries from the mountain-side, he
tempted him to mount before him, and, unknown to his mother, bore him
rapidly to the village.
About midday, the prison-door was thrown open, and
the unhappy Tell was led between two soldiers to the marketplace,
where low murmurings and excited glances showed that something
extraordinary had happened. Judge of the fond father's horror, when, on
raising his eyes from the ground, they rested on the pale face of his
Rudolph, who, bound hand and foot to the pole, had wearied himself with
weeping; and now, that he caught sight of his parent, exclaimed, with
sobs, "Father! dear father! save me! take me away from here!"
The cruel Gessler now advanced, and bidding Tell
make ready his bow and arrow, placed an apple on the child's head,
saying, " Your life is safe if you strike this off; but in the event of
your missing the apple, or killing the child, your existence must pay the forfeit."
Tell shuddered at the dreadful proposal, and passionately besought him to revoke the sentence or substitute
some other form of punishment. A thousand dark thoughts passed through
his mind as he knelt at Gessler's feet, and pleaded for mercy. On the one
hand, he saw his beautiful boy, swimming in his own blood, and looking
reproachfully on him, as he struggled in the agonies of death; or else
his delicate wife and young children rose before him, drooping with
want and sorrow, and persecuted in every way by the wicked Governor.
While lost in this most agonizing uncertainty, a soothing voice breathed
this blessed thought into his mind : "You will succeed!" It was a whisper from his own
heart, and it calmed the tumult of his soul, even as when the heavenly
voice said, "Peace! be still!" to the dark waters of the stormy
lake and the roaring winds above.
William Tell fell on his knees, and throwing his
arms to heaven, exclaimed, "Lord of Mercy! Lord of Justice! guide the
arrow, and save the boy!" Then kissing Rudolph fervently, he whispered
something in his ear, and rising with a firm and composed step, cried,
"Now, tyrant, I am ready; here is my bow and arrow." Gessler laughed with
joy, as he gave the bloody signal, while groans of horror and loud
imprecations broke from all assembled in the marketplace. Tell seized
the bow; notched the arrow; and taking steady aim at the apple, which
lay on the head of the now resolute boy, who, with his blue
eyes fixed on his father's face, stood erect, yet cold and pale as a
marble statue, he drew the cord; the dart whizzed through the air, just
parted the child's clustering curls, and, splitting the apple, bore it
to the ground.
It was but the work of a
moment, but the agony of a long life was endured during that brief space
of uncertainty, by the wretched parent. A joyful cry rose on the air,
and men who had before stood motionless, and with eyelids closely
pressed, now clasped their hands tumultuously, while some of the more
excited females burst into tears.
Tell staggered as if struck with sudden blindness, or as
if existence had passed away with the shot; but the exulting shout
recalled his senses, and, rushing forward, he clasped the almost
fainting Rudolph to his breast, and in broken accents returned thanks to
Heaven for his preservation.
But new trials yet awaited the much-injured bowman.
Gessler's quick eye detected another arrow, which lay half concealed in
Tell's girdle; and while hidden rage distorted every feature, he assumed
a courteous manner; congratulated the peasant on this fresh proof of
his skill, which he had just exhibited; declared that his honor was
perfectly appeased, and then coolly added, "Pray tell me, for what
purpose have you concealed the shaft, which now peers from your girdle?"
Tell colored high, as he answered, that it was a
custom, among the cross-bowmen of his canton, always to have an arrow in
reserve.
"No, friend," replied the
Governor, with a deceitful smile, "you wish to hide your motive from me.
Speak frankly, and your life is spared; but dissemble and you shall
die."
"Since you command, I will
tell you plainly," returned William Tell. "Had I destroyed my son with
yonder dart, this, which you now see, would have avenged his death by—"
"Mine ?" shouted the infuriated Gessler.
"Yes!" the prisoner calmly replied, "I intended to avenge his death by thine. Thy name is carved upon this shaft, meant for thy heart."
"Villain !" howled the
tyrant, " I promised you your life, and my word shall not fail; but
henceforth, I will take care to closet you so closely, that youriow,
like yourself, shall ever prove harmless, and where your eyes shall
never more be blessed with the light of day.'' And turning to the
soldiers, he cried, "Load him anew with chains, and bear him to my boat,
which lies idle on the lake, for ere yonder sun sets, the recreant
shall be safely lodged in the dampest vault of my castle of Küssnacht."
Then, amid the muttered curses of his subjects, who feared to oppose his
men-at-arms, the savage Gessler left the marketplace, and, followed by
his captive, walked rapidly to the little port of Hülen, which lies on
the Lake of Lucerne.
The small vessel was soon made ready, and in the course of a half-hour, Gessler stepped on board, carrying with him the prisoner's crossbow and quiver, probably with the intention of hanging them up,
according to religious custom, in some chapel, as a gage of his personal safety.
Tell took his seat in moody silence at a distance,
and the oars, brought into full play, bore them rapidly towards the
middle of the lake. The day was very beautiful, and the waters glowed
like topaz in the sunlight. Not a cloud was visible save one dark mass,
that hung its black mantle over some far-off mountain pinnacles, which
rose in fantastic shapes, or like spectral forms, high in mid-air, while a transparent veil of vapor hung lightly over the surrounding pine forest.
Suddenly the wind increased; the folded clouds
opened their wings, and spread rapidly over the entire blue sky; loud
thunder reverberated through the hollow caverns; frequent flashes of
lightning succeeded each other, with quick and dazzling brilliancy; the
waves dashed wildly against the fragile bark, and the sailors were
compelled to strain every nerve, in combat against the force of the
united elements. At length, one huge surge came sweeping on so wildly,
that the terrified steersman sprang from the helm, and throwing himself at
Gessler's feet, declared that they were all lost, unless the prisoner
Tell was set at liberty, and allowed to render his powerful assistance.
The passion for life burns strongest in the hearts
of the cruel and wicked. A dread of the unknown future haunts them
like a dark and angry presence; they have no confidence in safety, and in
moments of danger, every
unjust deed and every unrepented sin rises up as if in judgement against them.
It was even so with the
mean-spirited Governor. He felt that his life was in jeopardy; and, in
this time of danger, he was glad to order that the peasant's chains
should be thrown aside, and even besought him, in the most servile
language, to lend his aid in rescuing him from his present peril.
As his limbs recovered
their freedom, Tell leaped boldly to the helm, and guiding the boat,
with almost unearthly strength, through the boiling surges, soon reached
a narrow pass, where mountains, rising perpendicularly on either side,
scarcely offered a platform on which a human foot might stand. But the
brave peasant felt that this was his only chance of escape; and, while
every eye was directed to the precipice ahead, he seized on the crossbow and
quiver, which lay unnoticed at the Governor's feet, and springing on a
projecting cliff, he laid hold of the wild shrubs which grew from every
crevice, and, with their precarious aid, soon stood at liberty, on the
summit of the mountain.
In the mean while, there
was sorrow and anxiety in William Tell's cottage. The dinner hour
arrived, and Gertrude, his wife, summoned the little group to the frugal
board; but when all had assembled, the young Rudolph was not to be
found. The meal was finished, and still he did not appear; till, giving
the youngest infant in charge to the eldest girl, the anxious mother left the
cottage, and hastened in search of the truant boy.
In vain she wandered through the pine forests, alling
aloud his name. There was no answer, save the moaning of the distant
lake, and the breeze sighing through the thick foliage of the
lindens. With fearless footsteps, she crossed the rude high bridge,
a huge pine-tree, over the falling torrent; but no Rudolph was to be
seen. There was one wild spot among the mountains, where the beautiful
Alpine rose flourished abundantly, and whence he often culled a bouquet
for his mother. Gertrude hastened thither, looking carefully into every
crevice of the surrounding rocks, if, haply, he might have fallen asleep
from fatigue ; but no footstep was visible .on the untrodden snow.
"I will seek Father
Anselm, and ask his advice," sighed the now wretched mother, as she
brushed a big tear from her cheek, and retraced her steps to that part
of the hamlet, where the good pastor resided.
Father Anselm's heart was as open as day to melting
charity. His ear was ever ready to hear each tale of distress and
sorrow, and his voice never failed to speak consolation, and offer
assistance.
"Let us walk to Altdorf," the vicar said, when he had heard her story; "who knows but that fearless child
may have followed his father's footsteps?"
"Heaven bless you for the
thought!" exclaimed Gertrude. "Yet see! the sun is fast declining, and
you are too infirm to accompany me. I can well enough go alone." So
saying, the grateful mother, with her heart beating high with hope,
bade him farewell, and was soon treading the wellknown path which led to the village.
She did not beguile the way with songs and national
chants, as she was accustomed to do; but once, when she caught the
distant hymn which is sung every evening by the shepherds, among the
hills, till it rings from Alp to Alp, as if Nature delighted to echo
back, she too joined in the chorus contained in the
following spirited and touching lines, which, sung among those grand and
stupendous mountains, must indeed awaken a gush of pious joy and
gratitude, in the soul of every listener:
"Brothers! the day declines ; above the glacier
brightens,
And red through Hundwyl pines the vesper halo lightens;
From
hamlet, rock, and châlet, your grateful song be pour'd,
Till mountains,
lake, and valley re-echo—Praise the Lord!
"The sun sleeps in the west, the stars gleam
bright and cold,
And bring the hour of rest to the shepherd and his
fold;
Now swell the mountain chorus to the One our sires adored,
Whose
glorious works before us still whisper—Praise the Lord!
"And hark! below, aloft, from cliffs that
pierce the cloud,
From blue lake, calm and soft, lull'd in its twilight
shroud,
Fresh strength our anthem gathers; from Alp to Alp, 'tis pour'd—
The song that soothed our fathers—Ye shepherds, praise the Lord!
"Now, from forest, flood, and fell, let the voice of old and young,
All the strength of Appenzell, true of heart and sweet of tongue,
The grateful hymn prolong, and tune the spirit's chord,
Till yon stars take up our song—Hallelujah to the Lord!"
The village of Altdorf was soon reached, and the
first person, whom Gertrude met on entering the street leading to the
marketplace, was an old neighbour; and at her side walked the sweet
child, who had been the cause of her anxiety. The mother, clasped the boy to her
bosom, and tried to mingle severity with her tones of love, as she
asked the reason for his thoughtless behavior; but her blood curdled
with horror, and her limbs shook even to falling, as the peasant
unfolded Rudolph's narrow escape, till, when the old crone stopped for a moment and
leaned on her staff, Frau Tell raised her head, looked up into her lad's face, and
perceived immediately that the worst was yet to be told.
"Speak! Rudolph, speak!"
she shrieked aloud, as she grasped the weeping boy by the arm. "Tell me,
where is your father? Why have you left him?"
The child sobbed convulsively, as he told how they
had seized his father, and loaded him with heavy chains; but when he saw
the deadly paleness of his mother's face, and felt her hand grow cold
as marble in his clasp, he clung lovingly around her, exclaiming, "
Mother! dear mother! only look up, and I will go myself, and beg the
Governor for my poor father's life."
His words fell on a
senseless ear, for the shock had been too much for Gertrude's feeble
frame, and if it had not been for the support of young Rudolph, she would
have fallen to the ground.
At length, she slowly
recovered, and rising from his arm, murmured, " Come! my boy; let us go
together. He cannot refuse our supplications."
The peasant, knowing that Gessler had accompanied
his captive over the lake, sought to dissuade her from her purpose, and
soothingly said, "No! friend, lean on me, and let us return to the
hamlet. Tomorrow, we will come together; and, I trust, our united
efforts may move the hard-hearted Governor."
With these words, the afflicted Gertrude was drawn from the marketplace, and, followed by Rudolph, they retraced their homeward steps.
But now let us go back to Lake Lucerne.
After being blown about
for some time, at the mercy of the winds, the boat was at last driven to shore, and the infuriated Governor landed safely, but with
every hot feeling of revenge burning fiercer than ever in his bosom. In
his anxiety for their fate, Tell hid himself behind a projecting cliff,
and watched in silence the progress of the mariners. He was relieved on
seeing them land, at a spot about one hundred yards below his
hiding-place, and at first purposed to return quietly to the hamlet.
But, observing Gessler's furious gestures as he moved onward with his
servants, he felt curious to know how he bore the disappointment
resulting from the failure of his plan of vengeance, and therefore
remained concealed behind a thick mass of the clustering rhododendron.
As they advanced, he was
startled to hear his own name, coupled with expressions of the most
bitter hatred; and caught the following conversation.
"Yet surely, my lord, you will not condemn them unheard," said the steersman. "His innocent wife—"
"Ay ! and his young nest of eaglets too," growled the angry Gessler.
"Let me beseech you to spare the poor children," urged the boatman, in reply.
"Not one of them," shouted
the Governor. "Tomorrow's sun shall set on a scaffold, heavy with the
worthless carcasses of Tell, his pale-faced wife, and every one of his
precious children. And thus I will break the neck of every Swiss lout
who dares contradict my commands." And as he spoke, a deadly whiteness
spread round his mouth, and his keen gray eyes lighted up with a fierce
and eager joy, like those of some savage beast, before it pounces on its
prey.
"Forgive me, if I err," murmured the
excited Tell, as, seizing his bow, he placed an arrow, drew the string,
and, in the next moment, struck the savage speaker immediately through
the heart. Gessler, clutching the shaft embedded in the left side of his chest, uttered one loud cry of despair, gasping for his last breath, and fell heavily by
the road-side, as the Governor's soldiers tried in vain to save him; while the peasant, alarmed by his own act, stopped not to
know its results, but sprang from his covert, and, flying rapidly down
the road, took the direction leading to the hamlet. He knew, from having partaken in enough hunts, when an animal was mortally wounded. And the Austrian beast, the scourge of the Four Cantons, would never rise again.
Groans and lamentations fell on his ear, as he
reached his cottage door; for Gertrude was now giving free vent to her
sorrow. As their father entered, the children broke out in exclamations
of delighted surprise; and before another moment
had elapsed, Tell clasped his weeping but happy wife to his bosom.
The news of the tyrant's
death spread like lightning through the hamlet; and as the peasant stood
with his family around their frugal board, on which was placed their
usual supper of chestnut-cakes and milk, a warm prayer of thanksgiving
burst from his lips, and he blessed being made the
humble instrument of giving freedom to his unhappy country, and safely restored to his wife and precious children.
"And were they quite happy
afterwards ?"
"Yes! beacon-fires were
soon lit on the mountains, and one canton after another shook off the
yoke of the Austrian oppressors, until, at last, the brave men of
Switzerland were as free and independent as the wild chamois, that leap
and sport among their snow-crowned hills."
And they all produced the following ballad:
"Unloose me, father! set me free,"
The weeping Rudolph cried,
As, witli vain strength, he sought to break
As, witli vain strength, he sought to break
The cords so closely tied;
"What means all this? dear father, sayl"
"What means all this? dear father, sayl"
He almost shriek'd aloud,
When first he caught his parent's face,
Amid that stranger-crowd.
When first he caught his parent's face,
Amid that stranger-crowd.
The tall frame of the strong man shook
Like sapling in the storm,
As, with a fond, despairing gaze,
As, with a fond, despairing gaze,
He clasp'd the boy's young form;
And bending o'er him, in low tones
And bending o'er him, in low tones
Breathed words into his ear,
That brought hope's crimson to his cheek,
That brought hope's crimson to his cheek,
And calm'd his spirit's fear.
Then proudly did young Rudolph stand,
With his soft pleading eyes
Fix'd steadfastly upon his sire,
Fix'd steadfastly upon his sire,
While on his bright head lies
The fatal mark, whose circle small
The fatal mark, whose circle small
Must bear the dart secure,
Else Gessler's heart will ne'er relent,
Else Gessler's heart will ne'er relent,
And his rash words abjure.
It was a touching sight to see
That parent and his child,
The one with his white lips compreis'd
The one with his white lips compreis'd
In heavy anguish wild;
The other, fair and beautiful,
With slight and graceful form,
With slight and graceful form,
Waiting the arrow, that perchance
Might drink his life-blood warm.
Might drink his life-blood warm.
"God aid me now !" Tell cried aloud,
As, seizing his strong bow,
He drew the cord, while with the barb
He drew the cord, while with the barb
His senses seem'd to go;
Till a wild shout of triumph rose
Till a wild shout of triumph rose
From crowds, that round him press'd;
One moment more, and Rudolph fell
Half fainting on his breast.
Yes! he was safe ! the trial past!
But Oh ! what tongue can tell
The fearful weight of agony,
The fearful weight of agony,
That on his spirit fell,
In that small, atom space of time,
In that small, atom space of time,
When, whizzing through the air,
That slender dart, for life or death,
That slender dart, for life or death,
Parted his boy's soft hair.
Whene'er he drank, in after time,
That drop from memory's stream,
Methinks to him it must have come
But as a frightful dream:
Or if the stern reality
Could e'er an entrance find,
Did it not stir up mystic springs
Within his grateful mind?
Ah! even until life's last hour,
There surely was one shrine,
Where fond remembrance ne'er forgot
To offer gifts divine;
And when, o'er mountain, vale, or field,
His Rudolph by him trod,
Could he repress this gushing prayer?"
The incident is still proudly narrated in many an humble cottage among the Alps; and they were yet more gratified on learning that, thirty-one years after the patriot's death, (which happened by the falling of an avalanche,) and while eleven persons who had been intimately acquainted with him still lived, a chapel was erected on the very spot, where he leaped from the Governor's boat; and at each succeeding anniversary, the inhabitants of the different cantons still meet together, and commemorate the day, by a solemn feast.
